Minister of Information Michael Makuei Lueth - Photo: Awan Moses/Eye Radio

The minister of information is calling on journalists expected to cover the visit of Pope Francis while in Juba to portray a better image of South Sudan to the world.

Michael Makuei said there have been numerous negative reports about the country.

He said South Sudan is now at peace, citing the “conducive” environment ahead of the papal visit which is slated for Friday this week.

Makuei was addressing foreign and national journalists during the papal visit media briefing in Juba this morning.

“Lots of reports have been going outside about South Sudan as a hostile country where people are killed in the streets of Juba. But with your coming here, it is for you to prove as to whether all those reports which were being written about South Sudan are correct or not,” he told the journalists.

“So it is important that for you as journalists, you are of course the fourth pillar of any government, and if you are the fourth pillar of any government, then you need to project the real picture of South Sudan.”

Makuei told the journalists, some of whom are foreign nationals to judge by themselves that if South Sudan is not stable, “there would have been no reason for the Holy See and his brothers to come to South Sudan.”

The government spokesperson said the visit of Pope Francis is a great opportunity for the world media to come and see South Sudan and give a fact-based narrative.

More than 120 foreign journalists will be in the country as of Friday to cover the arrival and the events attended by Pope Francis, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Moderator-General of the Church of Scotland.